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what college would you go to if you were me?

Replies to: what college would you go to if you were me?

So I decided La Tech might actually be to far. If i wanted to come home, it would have to be for an extend amount of time. Which could be annoying because of my family. I decided to look at my other options that are closer, no more than 2 hrs and 30 min away (Nicholls State University and Northwestern State). I contacted each school to do an unofficial transcript evaluation, Northwestern got back to me quickly and only 15 classes transfer (I might have to take another english class because it doesn't transfer). I am still waiting on Nicholls, I should hear back form them Thursday. I finally got my acceptance letter to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. However, it might be to late. I am still waiting to be accepted to the engineering program, which might not happen because the whole admissions by committee/gpa thing and they are about to schedule classes. I can't schedule classes until I have been accepted by my major. I haven't applied to Nicholls or Northwestern, should I do that now or just wait until I hear back from Nicholls? I plan on touring Nicholls Thursday. Also what is the difference between information systems major and business informatics?

Looking at Lafayette, https://louisiana.edu/academics/majors-degrees/college it appears that the majors you're interested in are not in the College of Engineering, but are in the School of Computer Science and Informatics within the College of Science. The major is Informatics, and Business Informatics and Systems Administration are just sub-concentrations within that major. The website says, "Based on your choice of career path, you can choose a concentration that fits your interests, or you can design your own curriculum" - so that aspect sounds flexible - the important question is whether the Informatics major, in general, is going to be available to you. (I'm just concerned that if you're thinking this is an engineering major, you might be directing your communications incorrectly.)

It does seem as if going far from home is going to be a big, high-risk project to accomplish on a short timeline. (I tend to agree with those who suggested that if getting away from home is the goal, establishing yourself in the new place first, with a pet-friendly apartment and a job, and waiting a semester or two to start school, would probably be smart so as not to bite off more than you can chew and/or run out of money.) Congrats on being accepted to Lafayette - that gives you a good and fully attainable option. If you're not specifically accepted into Informatics, are you accepted into a different major? (Is it possible that you're actually accepted into the University College program? https://universitycollege.louisiana.edu/prospective-students )

You do not necessarily *have* to do the full major in Informatics or Business in order to get into those fields. There is a minor* in informatics: https://informatics.louisiana.edu/informatics/informatics-minor and also a business minor for non-business majors https://business.louisiana.edu/programs/minors-concentrations/business-minor-non-business-majors . So you could start out in a more general liberal arts type major (or General Studies if your offer of admission is from that program), and begin working toward adding a minor. You can have a goal of switching into the major, but even if that doesn't pan out, graduating with a different major and a minor in informatics or business wouldn't be so bad - you could still get the skill-set you need to be employable in your area of interest.

Yet another route into informatics, if the undergraduate path proves too steep, is to complete your undergrad degree in whatever major you can finish most quickly, and transition into the Informatics masters program. The GPA requirement for admission is a 3.0 GPA ***in the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework*** - so your early mis-steps won't matter. The informatics masters is an entry-level program open to students with a bachelor's in any field: https://informatics.louisiana.edu/sites/computing/files/Master's in Informatics Catalog Curriculum (FINAL, 2017.05.21)_0.pdf So... if you find out that getting through the undergraduate informatics degree is going to take a significantly longer than graduating with a less specialized degree, compare the total amount of time and money side-by-side and weigh whether the BA/BS+MS might get you a higher degree without actually putting in a lot more time. The masters program would take no more than two years, possibly less if you get a head start on the coursework as an undergrad... so if an Informatics BS were going to take two or three additional semesters compared to the most efficient major possible, that's not a huge difference in time commitment.

Basically... as you note, time is running short and you really don't have a viable plan for relocating, nor family support to do so. It seems as if you should probably stay put and focus on maintaining momentum as far as your academic success. I think the other schools you are looking at are going to turn out to be red herrings at this stage, when you have a good bird-in-the-hand. What you need to do is get yourself to an advisor ASAP and figure out what the best path at Lafayette will be, for your goals.

The Business school states:
All entering transfer students should be advised for their initial semester in the Office of Student Services. At this first advising session a credit evaluation will be prepared on all transfer work to be used by the faculty advisor during advising for subsequent semesters. Transfer students should contact Ms. Taylor Bourgeois, (337) 482-6491, in the Office of Student Services.

Hope that helps you with sorting things out. The website isn't as crystal-clear as it could be.

@alostcollegekid
I am sorry you are having a hard time and are lost. These days getting into, paying for, doing well and graduating college are no easy task. You have come so far being a first gen high schooler and first gen college attender in your family. You have the added burden of having no mentor and some emotionally dependent family. You are 24 years old and have managed to turn things around for yourself and can now get into a 4 year university despite previous problems with flunking out and part time jobs. You must choose for yourself. If you have the means to do it independently you should go to Lousiana Tech. If you do not you need to attend a school you don't really want to go to in order to move forward. If you go, your mom can survive for two years without you. If you go closer you must not be distracted and you must finish. Those will college earn more usually and you will need to be financially independent soon. College will help with that if you finish.

Do you have enough grants and loans to do the Louisiana Tech University for two years? Do you have a plan of where to live, how to keep the dog, and how to get to and from there? Have you committed to yourself that if you do have those things will you finish college? IF so proceed. Rooting for you!

Update: I have toured Nicholls State University and I'm 99.5% sure that I am going there. It is an 1 hour and 40 mins away from home. It is far, but still close at the same time. I just do not know where I am going to live yet. I have about 11k saved (most of it is from a car accident). Do you think is possible to get an car and apartment with this money? I already have a car, but I need a dependable car (the one I currently have breaks down a lot, I'm trying to buy a car thats no more than 5k). Also, I was thinking about getting a summer job and using loans to pay for the apartment. I am also trying to get a work study job so I can pay for food after I finish my summer job. My dad is also suppose to give me money for a car. I am also hoping that since my graduation and birthday is next month that i will receive some money from family. I was looking for an apartment around Thibodaux-Houma area. The cheapest apartment (not in bad area) is $550 and you have to put a $550 deposit, also you have to put a $300 pet deposit (but hopefully I can pay on it monthly). I have great credit so hopefully I have a chance to get it, I'll need to pay for lights, internet, and car insurance. Do you think it is possible for me to live in an apartment with all of this going on?